By Mohammad Haris,News18

Copyright news18

The Indian REITs Association (IRA) has joined the Global REIT Alliance, a newly launched international coalition aimed at promoting Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as a credible and widely accepted asset class worldwide, according to a statement.
The Alliance was unveiled at the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA)’s 2025 ReThink conference held recently in Stockholm, Sweden.
The Global REIT Alliance brings together representatives from 24 countries and regions, creating a common platform for REIT advocacy, policy guidance, and knowledge-sharing. IRA’s membership underscores the increasing significance of India’s REIT sector on the global stage and highlights its rapid growth over recent years.
The Alliance operates with six primary objectives: enhancing global awareness about REITs, building an international network for industry collaboration, influencing policy frameworks, guiding standard-setting, promoting sustainable investment practices, and generating reliable market data.
Speaking at the launch event, Preeti Chheda, executive committee member of IRA and CFO of Mindspace Business Parks REIT, said, “Joining the Global REIT Alliance is a key milestone for the Indian REIT market. It provides a platform to collaborate with the global REIT community, exchange market insights, and collectively drive the growth of REITs worldwide. We look forward to contributing to the Alliance’s mission of expanding investment opportunities in REITs.”
Welcoming IRA’s entry into the Alliance, Peter Verwer, spokesperson of the Global REIT Alliance, said, “India’s REIT market has shown remarkable growth in a short period. Its inclusion will bring valuable perspectives and help strengthen the global REIT ecosystem, broaden investor participation, and promote REITs as a transparent and trusted investment option.”
With India’s REIT sector attracting growing investor interest, IRA’s participation in the Alliance is expected to further enhance its visibility internationally and align domestic practices with global standards, according to the statement.
What Are REITs?
Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs, are investment vehicles that allow individuals to invest in income-generating real estate without having to buy or manage properties directly. Essentially, a REIT pools money from multiple investors to acquire commercial assets like office buildings, malls, or warehouses, and then distributes the rental income as dividends.
In India, REITs have been granted the status of ‘equity’, which means they are treated like shares of a company for investment and taxation purposes. This has made them an attractive option for investors seeking regular income along with potential capital appreciation, while also benefiting from the transparency and regulatory oversight provided by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).